The atomic structures of the nucleus of a [10•1](¯10•2) twin in Mg was studied by atomistic simulations, using density function theory and an empirical potential. The twinning mechanism for (¯10•2) twins was described. The results showed that the nucleus consisted of one partial dislocation with a Burgers vector of -50/107[10•1] together with multiple twinning dislocations with a Burgers vector of 1/15[10•1]. The minimum, stable nucleus involves 8 twinning dislocations and one partial dislocation, corresponding to a thickness of 17 crystallographic planes.

Nucleation of a (¯1012) Twin in Hexagonal Close-Packed Crystals. J.Wang, R.G.Hoagland, J.P.Hirth, L.Capolungo, I.J.Beyerlein, C.N.Tomé: Scripta Materialia, 2009, 61[9], 903-6